My step-daughter turned six this year and for her birthday I said I would make her a bag and wallet. I found an excellent tutorial on how to make a basic messenger bag by mmmcrafts and thought I would try it out. I decided to do the flap of the bag in patchwork and make the bag slightly smaller to suit a little kid. I improvised a bit and added a button and elastic hair band to hook around it for keeping the flap closed.

For the interfacing I used some fleece to give the bag some structure. The back pocket is patchwork as well.

Here is a sneak peek inside the bag. Because she LOVES to draw (and is very good at it, too!) I included a small sketchbook (6″ x 8.5″ spiral bound).

Keeping with the patchwork theme, I decorated the front of the sketchbook with scraps of pretty scrapbooking paper. I first glued down a plain piece of card stock and then used a glue stick to stick on the scrapbooking paper. I find it hard to throw away even the smallest piece of scrapbooking paper so this was a great way to use up those scraps!

Here she is – the budding young artist with her patchwork art bag! And what a gorgeous girl she is =)

Now I just have to work out how to make that wallet. I am notorious for being late about making gifts for family and friends (just ask my friend Donna), so at the rate I’m going, she may see it for her next birthday!

You might also like:

1. Illustration Friday: Journey
2. The Isabelle Skirt – A Two Tier Ruffled Skirt
3. How to Make a Patchwork Baby Quilt: My Quick and Lazy Way
4. Welcome to the GIVEAWAY DAY for 2011!